Guest Brandishes Gun at Disney Park, Demands Entry

An off-duty police officer was caught attempting to bring a gun into Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California–twice. Security cast members apprehended the man, who allegedly demanded to be allowed into Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney.

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After parking or walking into Disneyland Resort, guests must submit to security screening, including bag checks, metal detectors, visual screening, and detection dogs. Security cast members ensure that guests don’t enter the Southern California Disney parks with prohibited items, and the Anaheim Police Department is onsite to handle escalated incidents.

On Monday, a man allegedly tried to enter Disneyland Resort with a gun. When one security cast member turned him away, the guest reportedly attempted to evade protocols and enter through another line. Other Southern California Disney Park guests reported that the man was belligerent and demanded to enter Disneyland Resort.

“Going through security the man in front of me got pulled to the side and our line got shut down,” u/eatoutloseweight wrote on Reddit. “All of a sudden there were police and the head of security was taking photos of this man and his ID. We eventually found out he is a cop and tried to bring his gun in while with his family…Also the guy tried to be sneaky and get in another line when he got kicked out lol but the security was like absolutely not.”

According to the guest, security cast members noticed that the man refused to leave, and police officers eventually removed him from the Disney park. The man’s wife and children had already passed the security checkpoint and were waiting for him inside when he was apprehended.

It’s unclear what police department the Disney Park guest worked for or if he faced consequences other than removal from Disneyland Resort on Monday.

Many Disney Parks fans felt he should be banned.

“My feeling is if you need to bring a gun, to Disneyland, you might not be there for the right reasons,” said u/Klok-a-teer.

u/blakjakalope agreed:

“Someone that tried to break the weapon policy twice in the same hour has no business accessing the parks, in my opinion. It’s not about legality, it’s about some nut job with a gun fetish bringing the danger he fears with him.

It’s not my call, but I will hope for that kind of person to be far away from safe places like the parks, regardless of whether they are law enforcement or criminals.”

“They think because they’re police they can bring it everywhere with them but no,” u/User613111409 replied.

“Normal behavior for [law enforcement officers],” @stitchkingdom wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Normal behavior for LEOs.

— Stitch Kingdom has BUM WORMS (@stitchkingdom) August 27, 2024

Still, some Disney Parks fans defended the police officer’s actions.

“If you’re a cop you’re VERY used to taking your weapons with you pretty much 24/7/365,” Redditor u/pquade wrote. “It’s just second nature to do so.”

“Many folks with concealed carry permits simply plan on having it with them at all possible times,” u/thisweeksaltacct agreed.

Disneyland Resort bans firearms and other weapons from the Disney theme parks, Disney Resort hotels, and Downtown Disney District. All guests must consent to a security search upon arriving on Disney property. The complete list of prohibited items includes, but is not limited to:

• Firearms, ammunition, knives and weapons of any kind.

• Self-defence or restraining devices (e.g., pepper spray, mace).

• Marijuana (including marijuana enriched products) or any illegal substance.

• Objects or toys that appear to be firearms or weapons.

• Fireworks or other similarly explosive and/or flammable objects, smoke machines or fog machines.

• Alcoholic beverages, except in the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Wine may be brought in to the Downtown Disney District to be consumed at select table service restaurants only, corkage fees apply.

• Glass containers (excluding small containers such as baby food jars), except in the Disney Resort hotels.

• Horns, whistles, large megaphones or artificial noise makers.

• Recreational devices such as drones, remote-control toys, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, bicycles or shoes with built-in wheels.

• Strollers that are greater than 31″ (79 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length.

• Wagons, including stroller wagons.

• Any trailer-like object that is pushed, pulled or towed by an Electric Conveyance Vehicle, wheelchair, stroller or person.

• Wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels or devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered and/or unoccupied. Training wheels and/or modifications are not permitted. Devices must be manually or electrically powered and operated at a walking pace. Devices should be single rider and not exceed 36″ (92 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length.

• Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers. Re-usable ice packs are recommended.

• Folding chairs are not allowed in any theme park or the Downtown Disney District.

• Selfie sticks, hand-held extension poles for cameras or mobile devices, flags and banners are not allowed in any theme park.

• Tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’ (182 cm) are not allowed in any theme park.

Should Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort ban guests who carry weapons? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.